{"id":11383,"date":"2009-08-28T18:44:12","date_gmt":"2009-08-28T22:44:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.IreneEng.com\/?p=11383"},"modified":"2012-09-22T01:59:04","modified_gmt":"2012-09-22T01:59:04","slug":"an-incestuous-affair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tennis.ireneeng.com\/?p=11383","title":{"rendered":"An incestuous affair"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"2007\"<\/a> \"2008\"<\/a> \"2008\"<\/a> \"2009\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The current and last two years’ of t-shirts sporting by Mr. Gorgeous .. 2007’s very striking; 2008’s theme was Roland Garros because they went to the French Open that May.<\/p>\n

~ . ~<\/p>\n

Day 2 at Tatang\u2019s Memorial Cup 2009<\/a> by Metro Tennis Club of New York, Inc. at Cunningham Park.<\/p>\n

It rained again, so we started late, at around 10:30am. As Ernie promised<\/em>, there were 8 mixed doubles teams on the horizon. Our first match on Sunday (Aug 23) was the quarter final, having played the first match yesterday.<\/p>\n

\"girls<\/a>Our opponents were 16 years old girl with her uncle, an older gent. We won 8:1. I double faulted once, due to my own amusement. Sorry, it wasn\u2019t a close match, so my mind was wondering around. The girl was very athletic, retrieved a good lob from me down to her left corner and amazingly lobbed back cross-court. I had sort of given up that point, and running toward right. Simon was upset and yelled<\/em> at me.<\/p>\n

When I went to hang out with the girls after the match, few of them were talking \u2026 about me.<\/p>\n

\u201cIrene, you should never let your partner treat you like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c??\u201d Irene frown.<\/p>\n

\u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d Another added.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let him call you stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo he didn\u2019t.\u201d I protested. Stupid<\/em> isn\u2019t in Simon\u2019s dictionary nor features in his vocabulary.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes he did. We all heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Either I\u2019m used to the abuse or deaf to the unflattering compliment<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“I’ve been called worse.” I joked, but the ladies didn’t find that aaamusing.<\/p>\n

What’s wrong with me?!<\/p>\n

Errrhhhh … whatever.<\/p>\n

I know I like a talking partner (even I write I<\/em> in doubles game a lot b\/c all my partners are great .. ), who tells me what to do since I don’t really know what I am doing, on court. Running like wild rabbit. Playing singles? ha ha ha .. that’s funny.<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>We lost our next match 8:6, the semi final against two youngsters, she’s on St. Johns’ team (about 3.5 .. kind of low, don’t you think?) and her boy friend is a solid 5.0<\/a> – lethal, powerful, fast, clean and precise. Ya, I heard you, hit to the girl but he\u2019s too speedy who covered the entire court. Few times she was at net and didn\u2019t even know where the ball was, when he would hit around her. Amazing.<\/p>\n

Out of courtesy, he never once hit to me with a deadly force when I was at net but served up plenty aces. He toyed with us from the get go then dropped his fa\u00e7ade when we led 5:3. I held serve, wasn’t a bit nervous and didn\u2019t double fault – I should try to play like that all the time! But he was just too good for us.<\/p>\n

The two seemed enjoying each other very much. They giggled and talked; fist-pumped and finger-pumped. Their affection would fill the five courts there. Young love.<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>The story about The Woman in Red:<\/p>\n

The two young ladies are sisters from a small Ohio town. Lady Red is attending St. Johns (and the other Rutgers) who discovered this university from the Internet. She said there wasn\u2019t any schools near home she liked.<\/p>\n

They changed outfits few times during the day. The pic above (men in black) was when they were playing for the 3.5 semi final against two girls on the USTA Manhattan team. The 3.5 Ladies Manhattan (captained by Harris) also is going to Tucson this October, having won 5:0 at Syracuse early this month<\/a>. The two pairs played very well but when the match gone into tiebreak, both side became nervous, mooning and nursing the ball and messing up the scores. So a linesman\/referee (to the right in pic) was dispatched.<\/p>\n

\"Cool<\/a>
\nWhen the girls again got into an argument the audience asked the referee what he\u2019s doing there. He shouted back,<\/p>\n

\u201cThey didn\u2019t tell me that I should call the lines.\u201d<\/p>\n

All the people there (quite a few were just watching) were knowledgeable tennis fanatics and they\u2019re fair and friendly, they wanted a fine game.<\/p>\n

“Are you on St. Johns team?” Having seen the St. Johns\u2019 boys played yesterday, the difference is too dramatic. The sisters are on the same level, about 3.5.<\/p>\n

“Yes I am. .. I practice few hours a day.” Lady Red replied.<\/p>\n

Hmmmm…<\/p>\n

\"in<\/a> “Are you on a scholarship?” I asked.<\/p>\n

Explaination: the question was just as it is, because long time ago, Pumpkin\u2019s first coach had said tennis scholarship in Division III\u2019s easy to come by. I know Division III, but I don\u2019t know if St. Johns\u2019 Div I or II or III. I knew it has good basketball team.<\/p>\n

Lady Red paused a few second, then replied,<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, I\u2019m on scholarship BUT for academic. I\u2019m science major.\u201d<\/p>\n

IF she didn\u2019t pause, I would not have thought otherwise, nor feel compiled to explain myself here.<\/p>\n

Both girls are very likable, reminds me of the Venus and Serena Williams. Lady Red actaully looks like Serena. No? Oh well ..<\/p>\n

\"Lady<\/a>
\nLady Red entered singles and both of them into the mixed too on Sunday. They came with their boy friends for the second day. Funny, when I saw them on Saturday, my first thought was, ..<\/p>\n

“Are they hustlers?”<\/p>\n

Anyway, let’s talk about fashion<\/a>. Lady Red\u2019s single opponent was in an identical outfit<\/a> who instantly reminded me of Lady Chablis<\/a> in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Just an impression.<\/p>\n

Lady Red won.<\/p>\n

Good tactics.
\n\"trophy<\/a>The trophy presentation: they don\u2019t have ceremony after the conclusion of the final match but present the winner and runner up cups prior to the match: both teams seem happy and hopeful<\/em>, all smiles. IF the cups were present after the match, the loser(s) are likely to be sour faced.<\/p>\n

After our loss, we chatted briefly before they left the court first. Lady Red volunteered the info that she ranked 3.0 and he ranked 3.5 by USTA.<\/p>\n

Hmmmmm .. that’s bit \u4e0d\u6253\u81ea\u62db make a confession without duress, or \u505a\u8d3c\u5fc3\u865a have a guilty conscience. \u771f\u662f \u6b64\u5730\u65e0\u94f6\u4e09\u767e\u4e24 No 300 taels of silver buried here (the sign put up by the man in the folk tale over the place where he had hidden some money) – protest one’s innocence too much.<\/p>\n

Then Simon and I lingered little, talked about our match. As we were talking, next match came up: an older Filipino couple vs Lady Red\u2019s sis and her b\/f. The couple came to us directly and said,<\/p>\n

\"sitting<\/a>\u201cI\u2019ve complained to Ernie. You should too. He doesn\u2019t belong here.\u201d<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t going to complain. One it sounded like sour grape. Two what was done has been done. Take it like a man. I might not as a good player as I want to be but I view myself a very decent and fair sportsman. Three the youngsters were likeable and four, every one saw it in plain sight .. it’s organizers\u2019 problem to make it fairer next time around.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>After we left court, many spectators padded my shoulder, saying ..<\/p>\n

\u201cYou played well .. ..\u201d<\/p>\n

So Irene must looked like a total loser out there \ud83d\ude42 .. like the ugliest girl always wounds up winning the Miss Friendship in a beauty pageant.<\/p>\n

One guy even asked us ..<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you 8.0?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>Simon lost his cool and talked to Ernie, he played his heart out. Ernie said he would only award them the trophy not the cash prize.<\/p>\n

Hmmmm .. I don\u2019t know about that. He might just trying to pacify us. Needn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Give kids the $$ and tell them be honest next time around.<\/p>\n

Claiming USTA ranking is laughable. There is fairness that we all value.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>
\nThe Manhattan team girls:
\nDuring their loss to the sisters, one of them was fanning herself throughout the match with the t-shirt like a guy. At first, I thought a bee or fly got into her t-shirt.<\/p>\n

As soon as they came off the court after the match, one of the girls came to the group and complained about her partner.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to baby sit her all the time ..<\/p>\n

She always<\/em> has some excuse, like today, she has to go to USTA after the match .. has to rush to elsewhere ..<\/p>\n

She said she\u2019s hot .. .. \u201c<\/p>\n

So that’s why she was fanning. Sounded so spoiled only she didn\u2019t looked the part.<\/p>\n

Team work. Team spirit. Team .. be like a man perhaps? At least acts like an adult? I’ve never heard my teenage daughter complains about hot<\/em> when she has to play.<\/p>\n

\"a<\/a>
\nThe pair played well from get go but melted when the score got close.<\/p>\n

Later the fanning girl came and asked us if we saw her undie while she flipping her t-shirt up and down.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderwear .. not sure but we all saw your six pack ab ..\u201d one of the girl replied.<\/p>\n

The 3.5 Lady Team as whole\u2019s smart to enter the tourney, getting ready for the National in October \u2013 playing with strangers and under the pressure. But I don\u2019t know how they map out a partnership for doubles. Those two clearly don\u2019t care for each other.<\/p>\n

By the time we left, I saw the bickering pair was sitting side-by-side, eating dinner and watching the games.
\n\"the<\/a><\/p>\n

About the title: don\u2019t take any offense, it means very family orientated, a big happy family where every one knows your name. I hope under the sunny surface, there isn\u2019t any internal strife.<\/p>\n

There were many yongsters playing, like this cute 11 years old boy (he’s on the small side) entered the main draw, playing with big people while others, totally fluent in match, played among themselves.<\/p>\n

Many of them travel together, to Montreal, Las Vegas, CA, Florida, Paris .. playing tennis with other Filipino groups. I suggested they invite Simon next time.<\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>They asked,<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes he drink?\u201d<\/p>\n

Boy, not sure if Simon drinks<\/a>!<\/p>\n

The 16-year girl\u2019s mom came to chat with me few hours late. She herself is a 4.5 player and had gone to National twice. She mentioned that there is lot of politics in Metro tennis, and the Long Island team is far better, just tennis. Which is the way suppose to be, leave the bickering and reprisal at home. The only scores that needed to be settled is the 40 Love.<\/p>\n

\"Tattoo<\/a>I leave the food to the last this time. Although they only advertise the breakfast and lunch, but the food was non-stop at the site. The family had a memorial on Saturday evening and they provided Chinese take out (we left after noon when there wasn\u2019t any mixed doubles team in sight) to those remained. On Sunday, again, they served the whole cracking pig, and many other delicious stuff. I particularly enjoyed the sesame red bean ball. They didn\u2019t provide drink.<\/p>\n

Ernie said the entrance fee only covered part of the cost.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy sister who\u2019s doctor donates the food and my brother-in-law who\u2019s also a doctor donates the prizes.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s really a nice way to honor their Tatang, family unity and done in style.<\/p>\n

\"0CIMG7899\"<\/a> \"Have<\/a><\/p>\n

As we were leaving for home at dusk, Pumpkin called, asking how we did.<\/p>\n

\u201cMom, did you win?\u201d<\/p>\n

“No .. ” Then a huge guilt surged<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The common Alzheimer\u2019s disease affecting people, in general 65+ .. however, Irene has it since her 30s. I suddenly remembered why I shunned tourney and leagues:<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t have the time.<\/p>\n

For two days, I neglect my children and family, lounging in a park, waiting for my next match. Sure I read my Times but I felt at fault, double fault.<\/p>\n

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